Uncovering the Secrets of the 2000s Music Video Era
If you spent hours scrolling MySpace or watching MTV2 in the late 2000s, you’ve definitely seen Scott Hansen‘s work. As an Atlanta-based film and music video director, Scott was the visionary behind the camera for some of the most iconic bands of the Victory Records and Fearless Records eras.
In our latest episode of The Fable House Podcast, Scott sits down with us to share unbelievable on-set stories, the brutal reality of pitching to record labels, and how he transitioned from shooting 40 music videos a year to directing feature films.
Smoking with Willie Nelson on the set of The Three Amigos
Before he was shaping the visual style of metalcore, a fresh-out-of-film-school Scott Hansen landed the gig of a lifetime: directing a music video for Willie Nelson.
The shoot took place on Willie’s 900-acre property in Austin, Texas. After Willie made his grand entrance on a yellow stallion named Rocket, Scott realized the set they were using was an entire fake Spanish town. It turns out, Willie bought the actual physical set from the Chevy Chase and Steve Martin comedy Three Amigos and had it moved directly to his ranch.
“His manager was like, ‘Hey, Willie has to smoke… as a sign of respect the whole crew has to smoke with him.’ … We all got a hit with Willie Nelson on his property in a Spanish town from Three Amigos.”
Shaping the Scene: A Day To Remember, Motionless in White, & More
Scott’s impact on the alternative music scene cannot be overstated. During one insane five-week run, he shot early, low-budget videos for Memphis May Fire, We Came As Romans, Ice Nine Kills, and Motionless in White.
Here are a few of the massive behind-the-scenes stories he shared on the podcast:
| The Band | The Music Video Story |
| A Day To Remember |
The label actually wanted a different track for the single, but Scott pushed for “The Downfall of Us All” because of its catchy intro. He pitched the skate park concept, and the video ended up sitting at #1 on the MTV rock charts for six months. |
| Motionless In White |
Scott found the band as broke, unsigned kids playing to nobody in the back corner of Warped Tour. He offered to shoot their “Ghosts in the Mirror” video in an abandoned hospital, and Fearless Records signed them three weeks later. |
| Maylene and the Sons of Disaster |
For their “Open Your Eyes” video, Scott reached out to Danny Trejo’s agent and successfully pitched the idea of the Machete star being killed in a grave by cheerleaders wielding a chainsaw. |
The Reality of the Music Video Industry Today
Beyond the nostalgia, Scott provides an incredibly candid look at the business of filmmaking. He breaks down the grueling pitch process, noting that directors constantly battle heavyweights like Wayne Isham (director of Metallica’s “Enter Sandman”) and sometimes have their original ideas stolen.
He also discusses how drastically the financial side of the industry has shifted. Back in the day, directors received backend royalties from MTV broadcasts and similar outlets. Today, those royalties are entirely gone, and all the monetization is from YouTube and Spotify streams. He even dives into the wild new frontier of AI music covers, discussing creators who are utilizing tools to make AI Eminem and Conway Twitty tracks.
Digital Thunderdome & Devour
Today, Scott runs Digital Thunderdome Studios in Georgia, focusing heavily on feature films that still tie back to his musical roots. He recently directed Slipknot’s Corey Taylor in the indie horror film Bad Candy.
He is releasing a brand new theatrical movie titled Devour. The film is a horror-comedy starring Heidi Shepherd as the lead, following the chaotic story of four girls in a metal band who also happen to be vampires.
Listen to the full episode now to hear all of Scott’s incredible stories!
Timestamps:
- 00:00 Intro & Willie Nelson’s Three Amigos Smoke Break
- 04:15 The Grueling Music Video Pitch Process & Losing Royalties
- 09:30 YouTube Monetization, AI Covers, & Iron Lung Movie
- 13:45 A Day To Remember & The Victory Records Era
- 18:20 Discovering Motionless in White at Warped Tour
- 21:50 The Hustle: Memphis May Fire, We Came As Romans, & Ice Nine Kills
- 25:30 Directing Danny Trejo in Maylene and the Sons of Disaster
- 31:10 Digital Thunderdome Studios & Directing Corey Taylor
- 34:25 Upcoming Vampire Metal Movie: Devour starring Heidi Shepherd from Butcher Babies
- 38:00 Elder Emo Nostalgia & Social Media Content
- 41:30 Outro